Folding table



arch 16, 1937.

A. B. JACKSON I 2,074,123

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 16, 1937.

A. B. JACKSON 2,074,123

FOLDING TABLE Filed July 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Alden B Jackdan Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STA ATENT OFFICE Application July 29,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tables having foldable legs and the principal objects are:

To provide a table of the type mentioned wherein all of the legs may be moved into opera- 5 tive or inoperative position by manipulating any one of the same; r we To provide a table ofthis type wherein the legs are adequately braced, and

To provide a novel guide and guideway structure forming a portion of the means for connecting the legs together.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the. accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table in position for use,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the under table in use,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of one corner of the table, inverted,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sliding member forming a portion of the invention,

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating a latch member forming a portion of the invention,

Figure '7 is a plan View of the under side of the table in collapsed position, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a brace member embodied in the present structure.

The present table includes a top I0 having a side of the depending marginal rim section ll along each of its sides. Secured to the inner side of each rim 35 section II, at one end, is a block l2 attached to which is a U-shaped bracket I3. I

Pivoted between the legs of these brackets, by means of pins M, are the upper ends of the supporting legs of the table, each of said legs being adapted to swing on its pivot into position at right angles to the table top IE5, or into parallel position with respect to the rim section H. Associated with each of the four legs I5 is a mechanism now to be described. Passing through each leg l5, and spaced from the pivot M, is a pivot pin Hi, to the outer end of which is pivotally connected one end of a brace member H, and to the inner end of which is similarly connected an end portion of a brace member I8, which end portion is turned at right angles to the major portion of the brace and on a line which crosses the longitudinal axis of the brace at an angle of approximately 45, as shown in Figure 8. The other end portion of each brace I8 is similarly 55 bent and attached, by a pivot I9, to an ear 1935, Serial No. 33,761

at one end of a bracket 2| secured to the inner face of a rim section II. The pivot pins [4 and [B may be in the form of rivets.

As already explained, one end of each brace H is pivotally connected to a leg IS. The other end of each brace I1 is pivotally connected to an end portion of a guide 22, which end portion is slightly offset from the major portion of the guide as shown at 23, and is perforated, as at 24, to provide means for attaching the brace ll, this guide being illustrated in detail in Figure 5. The other end portion of this guide is bent at right angles and then given a quarter turn to form an outstanding car 25. The ear is perforated as at 26, said perforation extending at right angles to the perforation 24. The guide is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in a guideway 21 attached to the inner side of a rim section and comprising an elongated plate having its longitudinal marginal portions turned over to form guides 28 which receive the side edges of the guide 22.

Pivoted to the car 25 of each guide 22, by means of a pin or rivet passing through the perforation 26, is the inner end of a link 29. There being four legs to the table there are, of course, four of the guides 22 and a corresponding number of the parts associated therewith, including the link 29.

Pivotally connected to the center of the under side of the table top 10, by means of a screw or other suitable pivot 30 are two operating levers 3!, the pivot 3|] passing through both, at their longitudinal centers. These levers 3| are arranged at right angles to each other and; are held in that position by means of brace bars 32 having their ends connected to the operating levers inwardly oi the ends of the latter. The ends of the operating levers are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the links 29, as clearly shown in Figure '7 of the drawings. A spacing washer 33 is disposed between the operating levers and the under side of the table top, in surrounding relation to the pivot 36, to insure free movement of said levers. I

Connected to the under side of the table top, in the path of movement of one of the operating levers 3!, is a latch 34, illustrated. in detail in Figure 6, adapted to engage said lever when the table is in set up position, toprevent collapsing thereof. This latch has a perforation 35 at one end to receive a loosely fitting screw 36, thus having a slight movement of the latch toward and away from the table top. This screw also passes through a perforation in a U-shaped clip 31, the legs of which straddle the perforated end of the latch and prevent lateral movement of the latter, while the web portion of the clip limits its vertical movement. The under side of the latch is beveled upwardly and away from its perforated end, the bevel terminating at a shoulder 38 having a finger 39 projecting therebeyond.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the table top to be in collapsed position as shown in Figure 7, any one of the legs l5 may be grasped and drawn outwardly from the table top until it assumes the position shown in Figure 3, the leg swinging on its pivot [4. This will impart movement to the adjacent guide 22 through the medium of the brace member I! and, as the guide is connected to an end of an operating lever 3| by means of alink 29, that lever will be caused to swing on its pivot, carrying with it the other of said operating levers and imparting a similar movement to the remaining legs I 5, so that they will all assume a position as shown in Figure 1. As the operating lever adjacent the latch 34 swings on its pivot, it rides over the beveled face of the latch 34 and passes slightly beyond the shoulder 33. When the table is then placed in an upright position as shown in Figure 1, the latch will swing downwardly, due to the loosely fitting pivot 36, until its finger 39 rests upon the then upper side of the said operating lever, which lever will abut the shoulder 33 and be held thereby, should the table legs tend to assume a collapsed position. This position of the latch is illustrated in detail in Figure 6.

What is claimed is:

Looking means for a leg operating lever of a table, said table having a top, legs pivoted to the top, and an operating lever connected to a leg and pivoted to the top for oscillating movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the top, said locking means comprising a latch having a perforated end, a beveled face on the latch, a finger extending from the unperforated end of the latch, a shoulder connecting said finger and said beveled face, a perforated U-shaped clip having its legs straddling the perforated end of the latch, and a fastener passing through the perforation of the clip, passing loosely through the perforation of the latch and into the table top for securing the clip thereto, the bight portion of the clip being spaced from the table top a distance greater than the thickness of the perforated end of the latch whereby the beveled face of the latch may gravitate into the path of the operating lever when the table is in position for use.

ALDEN B. JACKSON. 

